Me: I'm back baby!
Mordecai: Dude, where ya been?
Me: Sorry, I had finals, and the holidays jam-packed my schedule, so it was hard for me to work on my stories.
Muscleman: its cool man, we get it.
Rigby: Least you're back right?
Me: Yep. It took me a while to get back into fanfiction mode, but now I'm back and ready.
Grimlock: Me wait long enough! Me see AWESOME STORY
Me: Then let's get started.
Ch. 12 The Soldier and The Veteran
The calm, peaceful ocean. Endless blue water as far as the eye could see, nightfall allowed one to see all the stars in the clear sky. In the calm water, you could see the perfect reflection of the night sky. This was perfect serenity.
However, the perfect serenity was broken as a figure soared across the water, greatly disturbing it. This figure was none other than Rex Salazar, riding his Sky-Slyder. He was deeply enjoying the moment, soaring across the ocean at incredible speeds, with the massive grin on his face, he was deeply enjoying the moment.
"WAHOOO!" Rex shouted as he continued to fly. There was another with him, who, however, was not enjoying the moment.
"If you're done messing around, we have a job to do." Spoke Lance, from inside the Manus armor as he flew above Rex.
Rex's smile faded, he sighed as he ascended and flew parallel to Lance.
"You are no fun at all." Rex criticized
"This isn't the time for fun." Lance replied. "We have a mission. Locate the portal generator and secure, in case you've forgotten. Now quit goofing off, and get moving"
"Yeah, yeah, I hear ya." Rex waved off.
The two continued to fly parallel to each other across the ocean.
After about two hours; the two had finally made it to their destination. They were now in the Amazon jungle. Rex was using his BFS to cut through the forestry and carve a path. Lance, no longer using his armor, was walking behind him, looking into a handheld device, tracking the signal of the Rift Gate generator.
"We should be getting close." Lance observed. "According to the scanner Solomon gave us, the generator should be two kilometers ahead of us."
"Got it, then let's keep going." Rex responded as he continued to cut through the green.
"Hold on." Lance said.
"'Hold on'?" Rex questioned. "What for? We're almost there."
"Then what? We charge in without knowing what's in store?" Lance criticized. "No, we need a plan"
"I find life's more fun without one." Rex said
"Like I said, this isn't the time for fun, do you even know what you're doing" the corporal questioned
"Yeah, of course I do." Rex replied "This isn't my first rodeo." He continued as he cut through another layer of jungle
"Oh, so you've dealt with an alien invasion before?" Lance said sarcastically
"Well…." Rex said, rubbing the back of his head. (He hadn't)
"Yeah that's what I thought." Lance said. "I've dealt with the Mutradi before; I know how they work."
"Okay, I may not be some military officer." Rex admitted "But I know what I'm doing; maybe not aliens, but I went up against monsters and psychopaths before."
"Not like this, I guarantee that." Lance responded
"In case you've forgotten; I helped save your city from a full-scale invasion" the EVO reminded
"That was a battle, this is a stealth operation." Lance contradicted. "We need a knife, not a cannon to get this job done."
"Ugh, whatever." Rex dismissed, they continued through the jungle. Man, this guy's worse than Six
The two finally made it to their destination, but we're quite surprised at what they saw.
"Whoa." Rex said.
They saw a massive, wide, black, tower in the middle of a large clearing. The tower had a large white energy-beam shoot off into the sky, feeding the Rift Gate above earth energy to be kept open.
Many Mutradi infantry soldiers we're guarding the outside.
Rex and Lance sunk back into the jungle to avoid being seen.
"Alright, we made it." Lance observed. "The first thing we need to do, is take out the guards so they can't radio for back-up, or warn the enemy already inside the facility."
"Sounds like a plan." Rex whispered
"From what I saw, there were at least eleven guards outside, taking them out shouldn't be a problem." Lance began.
"I'm sorry, how many did you say there we're?" Rex asked
"Eleven." Lance repeated "But from what I can gather from experience, it only takes one to sound an alarm. So we need to kill them quickly and quietly, we can't afford to…" Lance looked up, only to see Rex was gone. "Rex?" He then heard the sounds of Mutradi roaring, guns-shooting, and metal smacking from the tower-area. He didn't have to look to find out what was going on. Lance then face-palmed.
One Mutradi was stabbed with Rex's massive sword. He formed his slam cannon in his other hand, and shot three more Mutradi running for him.
Rex heard more roaring; he quickly flung the impaled carcass from his sword and into the group of aliens. They caught the body and looked up to a shadow, and saw Rex slamming down onto them with his Punk Busters.
Two more behind them had their guns pointed at him from behind. Only for one to be mowed down from machine gun fire from its behind. The other one looked behind and saw the fist of the Manus armor gunning for its face, sending it flying.
With all the guards dealt with, Lance deactivated his armor and went to Rex
"What took ya soon long?" Rex joked.
"What part of, 'quickly and quietly' didn't you understand?!" Lance demanded
"You said we had to take out the guards, so we did." Rex answered.
"Yeah, great job there." Lance began with sarcasm "Except now, the forces inside tower likely heard all the commotion and are getting ready for battle!"
"Great, more fun for us." Rex said with a smile.
"Haven't you listened to a word I said!?" Lance questioned "How can you be so level-headed about this!?" He exclaimed, grabbing Rex by the jacked.
"First off, hands off the jacket." Rex began, shoving off Lance's hands. "Second, I did hear what you said; except I'm no good with stealth at all."
"You can at least try to treat this seriously." Lance criticized
"I am." Rex replied. "Look." Rex switched his goggles to infrared and handed them to Lance.
Lance took the goggles and looked into the tower. He could see the heat signatures of over five dozen Mutradi inside the tower.
"I checked it out, the whole thing is crawling with bugs. Stealth is not an option." Rex said.
"Why didn't you say that before?" Lance questioned.
"I was going to, but then you started yelling at me." Rex answered
"We need a plan, we can't afford to storm an enemy fortress head on." Lance replied
"Like I said, I'm not a soldier, but I've seen my fair-share of war." Rex replied. "I know what I'm doing, so stop treating me like I'm some kind of rookie."
All Lance did was sigh, he could tell this person was difficult when it comes to authority. "Alright. What do you propose we do?"
"Go in, and smack them all." Rex said, forming his smack hands.
"Well, at least you make it simple." Lance replied, activating his Manus armor.
"Then let's crack some skulls." Rex said with a smile. He grabbed the main door of the tower and began to pry it open.
The blunt option was not always Lance's style. Why couldn't I have gotten paired up with someone else?
Rex had pried the massive doors off with his metal hands, and met the gazes of dozens of heavily-armed, Mutradi soldiers.
"Well they're onto us." Lance observed. Pulling up a pair of swords for his armor "Think you can handle it."
Rex's smile refused to fade "Thrill me."
The Mutradi opened fire, and they both charged in.
Near the top of the tower, inside a dark room, an alien figure was observing everything from countless screen showing everything that played out in the tower. It could see the battle unfold, and the two heroes overwhelm the many, many Mutradi soldiers.
The figure looked at the boy that could grow machines from his body, he could be useful. However, what got the figure's attention, was the Galalunian Manus armor. It was the standard for many Galalunian soldiers, but the creature recognized it immediately.
"So we meet again." It spoke, with a smile.
Rex and Lance continued to battle their way up the tower. From the outside, one could see small explosions from the sides, slowly coming further up towards the top.
The two killed anything that wasn't human, or had a weapon. Rex was not one to kill, but with billions of human lives at stake, he was willing to make an exception.
After less than half-an hour they made it to the top floor. Each room and hall, was twice as tall as Lance's massive armor, so he never once had the need to deactivate it. Rex bashed with his Smack Hands and Fun-Chucks; he sliced and diced with his BFS and Bad Axes; and he crushed with his punk busters.
Lance unloaded with his machine gun wrists, and took out any aliens from a distance; he used nearly every weapon his armor had stored; swords, spears, axes, maces; nothing could stop these two.
Nothing, except for the lack of any more foes. Once they stopped, Rex withdrew his machines and Lance deactivated his armor.
"Not bad for a corporal." Rex congratulated
Lance merely grunted
"Aw come on man, you can stand to lighten up a little." The EVO criticized.
"I doubt that is the trait of a Galalunian soldier, especially with his experience." Said a voice from the end of the room.
The two turned and saw a door open, and a figure behind it. Though, it could not be seen from the shadows. Both young men glared at the figure. However, once the figure stepped out, Lance's look of determination became that of shock, as he instantly recognized the creature.
"Y…y…you." Lance uttered.
"Yes, me." The Mutradi squid assassin, Xeexi, replied.
"Lance, you know this thing?" Rex asked.
"No… it's… it's not possible. You're dead!" Lance said, pointing towards the squid-like Mutradi. "I saw you die."
"Did you, now?" Xeexi asked. "I suppose this is a shock, after so long ago." Xeexi remember everything, recalling how Titan stomped his ship like a bug, with him inside it. "I guess I should give an explanation, before you die." The assassin began. "You see, my autonomy is far different from most other Mutradi. Not only is my body quite malleable, but I also possess the ability to regenerate."
"Regenerate?" Rex questioned
"Yes." Xeexi answered. "You see, after that, dreadful, encounter; I had just barely escaped into your city's sewer system. My body had been greatly damaged, so great, even I believed I would die; I placed myself within a hibernation state. I hid myself deep underground, and allowed my vitals to slow to a crawl, allowing me the time to heal." Xeexi then gave a light laugh. "I then awoke, only to find a year had passed. I was eager to catch up with my master. When I finally made contact with my home-world, I was greatly grieved to hear what had happened. My master, and our forces we're pushed back; we had lost the war. You could not imagine my frustration."
"So, you we're asleep, this whole time. You we're healing yourself." Lance surmised
"Yes." Xeexi answered. "However, from this downfall, came the seeds to my master's revenge."
Lance then pieced it all together. "It was you."
"What?" Rex questioned
"You're behind the invasion. You gave Modula the means to invade Earth!" Lance exclaimed, pointing to the accused.
"Yes I did." Xeexi said. "I am not only an assassin, but a master at espionage. Now, not only will my master have his revenge, but I can have mine as well. A most fatuous turn of events that you came to me, Corporal Lance. After I kill you; I'll be going for the Princess."
That tore it. Lance reformed his Manus armor, and Rex his Smack Hands. Xeexi charged.
The squid was quick to avoid both attacks. He wrapped around Lance's armor. Lance then flew straight through the ceiling and onto the roof. Rex formed boogie-pack and flew up.
The roof, was a wide, doughnut-shape base. The large whole in the center, had the massive energy beam shooting out into the sky, to the rift gate.
Rex tried to grab and smash Xeexi with his Smack Hands, but the squid was much too fast for him. Xeexi was just able to jump back from a crush with cupped Smack Hands; he then leapt towards Rex and slashed him with his sharp tentacles.
Rex grunted in pain, and clutched his side.
"Oh I'm sorry, did that hurt?" Xeexi insulted. "Don't worry, boy. I'll put you out of your misery."
"Don't bet on it, squid-boy." Rex replied
At that instant, a Manus axe came right onto Xeexi, who was quick to avoid it just in time. Xeexi leapt back again, only for Lance to let loose on his armor's machine-gun wrists. Xeexi then made an effort to scurry away, and was sure to avoid every bullet that was biting at his trail. Xeexi then looked in front of him to see Rex swing both Bad Axes, about to cross his arms.
Xeexi was fast to avoid this as well; ducking, limbo-style, with the blades just barley grazing his face.
Lance immediately stopped firing to avoid shooting Rex.
Xeexi wrapped his tentacles around Rex. Rex formed his boogie pack and took off, to try and shake off the creature.
Xeexi merely angled Rex's wings, letting them fly towards the massive energy beam.
"Be careful." Xeexi teased "That there is raw energy. One touch, and you'll die instantly; and painfully. Hahahaha!"
Rex tried to squirm the squid-Mutradi off of him, but Xeexi had a firm grip on his wings. However, two purple spears, came straight up vertically, severing Rex's mechanical wings, freeing him from Xeexi.
Rex let himself fall quite a bit before forming his boogie pack, to get some distance from Xeexi; who managed to hit the roof at full-impact. The creature quickly got up, protected by its malleable body.
"A little Warning NEXT TIME!" Rex exclaimed to Lance.
Lance didn't answer as he flew straight for Xeexi and attempted to slice him with his swords.
Rex quickly regained his breath, he turned and saw he was only a few feet from the massive beam. He really should be thanking Lance, if it hadn't been for him, he might off….
Rex stopped his train of thought, and got an idea. "'Die instantly' huh?"
Back on the roof, Lance had tried everything to hit Xeexi, but couldn't even touch him. No weapon, short-range or long-range could even make contact. At this rate, he'd be at this forever. Until Rex contacted him through the comn, so Xeexi couldn't hear them.
"Lance. I got a plan."
"A plan, you say?" Lance said, with sarcasm. "An actual plan?"
"Ugh! Yes! You need to let that freak pin you down."
"What!?" Lance exclaimed "How's that gonna…"
"Just do it! Trust me!"
Lance had his doubts, but he had to finish this so they can stop the invasion. Lance couldn't come up with any strategy that might help here. It seemed he had no choice.
Putting his trust in Rex, he intentionally slowed down, leaving an opening available. Xeexi took the opening, and tackled Lance.
He pinned the Manus Armored warrior down to the ground, ready to finish Lance off with one of his razor-tipped tentacles.
"Any last words, for your beloved princess?" Xeexi mocked.
"Thrill me." Lance said.
"Interesting choice." Xeexi replied
"I wasn't talking to you" Lance corrected.
Xeexi looked confused, but before he knew it, he found himself completely wrapped in a big, metal cable. He quickly turned and looked in shock at Rex, who had formed his Blaster Caster whip.
"Order up!" Rex shouted "Got a serving of FRIED KALAMARI!" Rex cracked/shouted as he yanked the shocked Xeexi off Lance and onto the beam.
"Oh no. No. No. NOO. NOOOO!" Xeexi exclaimed.
"Aw man this is gonna hurt." Rex muttered.
Rex had bashed the wrapped monster into the energy beam with his whip. The whip exploded, sending Rex rolling back, clutching the smoking hand that formed the whip; he and Lance both looked at the beam.
Xeexi screamed as his body quickly vaporized against the column of pure energy, leaving nothing left, even on an atomic-level.
"Regenerate from that." Lance said.
"Yeah… wait." Rex began, his mind wrapping what came out of Lance's mouth. "Did you just, make a joke?"
Lance deactivated his armor and got up. "Don't get used it, not one of my talents." He walked to Rex and offered him and hand. Rex took it and was helped back to his feet. "Thanks."
"No problem." Rex nodded
Lance then opened the comn channel. "Solomon, this is Lance. Rex and I just secured the generator location in the Amazon."
"Understood." Solomon replied on the comn. "I'm sending G3 soldiers to keep the location secure. Maintain your position until they arrive, as soon as they do, report back to base."
"Got it." Lance answered, closing the comn. "Once G3 has the location secure, we'll head back." Lance told Rex
"One down, four to go." Rex said.
"Let's hope the others are having similar results." Lance said.
"Worried about your Girlfriiieeend?" Rex teased, causing Lance to glare.
"What?" Rex asked This is gonna be a loooong wait.
Me: Done.
Mordecai: Nice dude, you still got the touch.
Rigby: Yeah, this was awesome.
Muscleman: Yep. Totally worth the wait.
Me: Thanks guys.
Grimlock: Me like this! Update more soon!
Me: Oh I will, I will. ;)