Chapter 13: Partners in Crime
'Zona grunted as Carolina's foot connected with her already bruised midsection, knocking her to the ground. "You shouldn't have betrayed us, 'Zona. You should've known you can't beat me." Carolina sneered, dropping her depleted plasma rifles to the ground. Plasma burns and bullet holes adorned the walls of the hanger from their fighting.
Grabbing onto a nearby supply crate, 'Zona hauled herself to her feet. "For the last time, I didn't fucking do anything!" She shouted, wincing as she stepped forwards. Damn, must've sprained it… She groaned inwardly.
Carolina laughed, "So that's why you ran? That's why Mary and Rhode are dead? Even if you didn't set off the explosions, there's still plenty more trouble to take you in for." The teal Freelancer swung her gravity hammer off her back, slamming it to the ground in front of 'Zona.
Arizona was thrown into the air, slamming into the wall with a cry as her armored form dented the wall. She hit the floor hard, struggling to get to her feet but only managing to roll over, gasping. "…Go to hell, Carolina…"
"I'll see you there." Carolina shot back coldly, raising the gravity hammer to deliver the final blow and end it.
'Zona closed her eyes, waiting for the end to arrive. She heard the hammer swing, but no pain or impact accompanied it. Instead, Arizona heard Carolina cry out in surprise, as well as the sound of something heavy crashing to the ground further away.
Opening her eyes, 'Zona saw no trace of Carolina. Instead, a very familiar blue and purple Freelancer stood above her, katana in hand. "Hey there 'Zona thought you needed a hand." Ark spoke, chuckling lightly as he offered her his hand.
Damn those puns… "What… what the hell are you doing?!" She asked incredulously, taking his hand and standing up with a groan.
Ark glanced at where Carolina had landed, now in hiding somewhere on deck. "What I always do, interfering in everyone's business." He replied sarcastically.
She stood back to back with him, shaking her head as she searched for Carolina. "You know what I meant… Why?" 'Zona asked quieter.
He sighed, "Is this really the time, 'Zona?" As if on cue, Carolina sprung forwards out of her hiding place, hammer raised high overhead. "Watch it!"
'Zona drew her knife, ready to intercept Carolina's strike when she felt Ark push her out of the way. You fucking idiot! She mentally cursed, stumbling back against the wall. She watched in horror as the hammer came down on Ark's blade, shattering it and forcing him backwards with a curse. 'Zona noticed that his shoulder was held at an unnatural angle, likely dislocated. "Leave him alone you're here for me!"
"I don't listen to traitors." Carolina grumbled, swinging back to slam Ark back against the wall.
She only air as Ark ducked, slicing the broken remnants of his sword against Carolina. A trail of red followed his blade's path, before he spun on point and kicked her forwards. "C'mon 'Zona, a little help here?"
Nodding, 'Zona limped forwards to stand by Ark as they faced down the psychotic Number 2 Freelancer. "Fine. But if you try that again, I WILL kick your ass."
Carolina growled, ignoring her injuries as she unfurled her stun baton. "You're going to regret that, Arkansas."
He didn't reply, instead switching his broken blade to his good arm. 'Zona raised her knife next to him, "Like hell he will…"
The teal Freelancer charged, snapping her stun baton between both Ark and 'Zona quickly. She rolled forwards, snapping a vicious kick into Ark's head and following up with a stun baton to 'Zona's chest.
Ark snapped backwards, landing inside the troop bay of the empty Pelican while 'Zona smashed into the side of it, slumping to the ground unconscious. "I told you, you can't win." Carolina sighed, walking over to where 'Zona lay.
The Pelican rose, spinning around and smacking Carolina across the hanger bay. "See, your problem Carolina… You forgot about me!" Ark shouted, setting the Pelican to hold position as he ran out the back, carrying 'Zona's unconscious body into one of the seats, strapping her down securely. Oh shit, now they're pissed! He thought, watching as Marine's swarmed into the hanger.
He ran to the pilots' seat, strapping himself in as the cargo bay doors sealed themselves with a hiss. "Shouldn't be too hard… Just like video games, right?" Ark muttered to himself, hands gliding over the controls.
Bullet fire peppered the sides of the drop ship as Ark piloted it out of the hanger. As soon as he exited the hanger, Ark set the engines at full-burn, blasting away from the Mother of Invention as fast as possible. Once he reached a safe distance, he unstrapped the restraints with a sigh.
Glancing down, Ark gritted his teeth as he braced his dislocated shoulder against the side of the cockpit, pushing against it. With a crack of searing pain, Ark felt his shoulder snap back into place. Son of a bitch! He cursed inwardly, holding his sore shoulder. Once the pain had subsided to a dull throbbing, he stood up and walked to the troop bay.
'Zona groaned in her seat as she slowly regained consciousness, taking off her helmet and dropping it to the floor. She rubbed the back of her head gingerly, "Ark, what are… Why?" She questioned as he walked into the bay.
He let out a long sigh, looking down at his feet. "You know perfectly well why I did that…"
She thought a moment before unhooking her restraints, standing on wobbly feet. "Well in that case…" 'Zona murmured, launching forwards to straddle Ark in one of the nearby seats.
"'Zona, what are you-" Ark sputtered, blushing underneath his helmet.
"Oh shut up…" 'Zona pulled off Ark's helmet, before pulling him forwards in a kiss.
Ark's brain processes shut down at this point, all he cared about was 'Zona as he returned the kiss. "…I love you…" He finally gasped out when they broke for air.
'Zona's face lit up with the brightest smile he had seen in months as she replied, "Love you too."
"Where do we go from here?" Ark wondered, glancing out a porthole as he felt 'Zona stand up. By the time he looked back over, he felt the heat rise in his cheeks as he saw 'Zona wearing only her skintight undersuit. Her black and purple armor lay around her in sections on the floor.
'Zona noticed this and blushed as well, "Oh shut up… Not like it's anything you haven't seen before." She grumbled, watching attentively as Ark unsealed his armor and shrugged out of it as well.
They kissed again, arms wrapped around each other as they wound up laying down across multiple seats. 'Zona smiled as she cuddled against Ark's chest, "I did miss you…" She murmured.
Ark rubbed her back gently through the under armor, "I'm sorry."
"Don't be, I pushed you out, not the other way around…" "Zona apologized, leaning forwards to kiss him again before laying back on his chest. "Listen, I know it's hard to stay sometimes, but please don't leave me…" She spoke quietly, closing her eyes to rest.
Ark was stunned into silence at her statement, before smiling and wiping away the tears of happiness she had brought to his eyes. "I promise. Bad Penny is my middle name after all, I'll always come back."
As the two ex-Freelancers drifted off to a content sleep, their Pelican continued along through space. Coordinates set for Earth, for home.